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South Haven drafting plan to bring back lifeguards to Lake Michigan beaches

Seven people have drowned in Lake Michigan while swimming at South Haven area beaches since 2019, according to the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project.

SOUTH HAVEN, Mich. — The City of South Haven is considering lifeguards returning to its Lake Michigan beaches.

The South Haven City Council voted to appoint a resident to create a plan to reintroduce lifeguards to South Haven's beaches during a city council meeting Monday night.

Heather Johnson was appointed and is now tasked with gathering information from water safety and lifeguard experts and drafting a plan to put lifeguards back on the beaches.

The plan to bring back lifeguards came after a "Priorities Setting Meeting" earlier this month determined that lifeguards were a top five priority for the city.

“It's going to be a priority, and I want to have some information prepared for when we do discuss it,” said Councilwoman Wendi Onuki. “Summer is coming up pretty soon. We need to make some decisions going forward.”

Johnson says she got involved with water safety after witnessing four drownings in South Haven in 2022.

“I've witnessed the heart-wrenching scenes of grief and despair such as Elijah Britt’s family screaming on North Beach and Korey Ernster’s mom weeping on the bench of South Beach, both just having lost their children," said Johnson.

Seven people have drowned in Lake Michigan while swimming at South Haven area beaches since 2019, according to the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project (GLSRP).

In 2022, a 7-year-old boy from Texas and a 33-year-old man from Ohio drowned at South Haven's North Beach on July 14 and then a 19-year-old Emily MacDonald and her boyfriend, 22-year-old Kory Ernster, drowned at South Haven's South Beach on August 8. 

“These incidents have ignited within me a dedication to water safety. Because of these experiences, my own personal experience, I have immersed myself with water safety experts and knowledge," Johnson added.

Johnson launched the nonprofit organization South Haven Ambassadors Program and Education (S.H.A.P.E.), which trains volunteers to educate the public on the dangers of Lake Michigan and how to be safe on the beach.

“If this lifeguard program comes to fruition, it will be historic,” said Dave Benjamin, GLSRP Executive Director. “I do not believe that a lifeguard program that was terminated has ever been reintroduced to a Great Lakes beach. This will be the first to my knowledge.”

Johnson is set to deliver her plan to reintroduce lifeguards to South Haven beaches at the April 15 city council meeting.

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